octopus

noun

oc·​to·​pus ˈäk-tə-pəs 

-ˌpu̇s

plural octopuses or octopi ˈäk-tə-ˌpī 

1

plural also octopodes äk-​ˈtä-​pə-​ˌdēz 

-​ˈtō-

: any of a genus (Octopus) of cephalopod mollusks that have eight muscular arms equipped with two rows of suckers

broadly : any octopod excepting the paper nautilus

2

: something that resembles an octopus especially in having many centrally directed branches

an octopus of a corporation which lends, buys, produces, and sells

—Atlantic

Illustration of octopus

• octopus 1

Examples of octopus in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Share [Findings] The deepest octopus observed to date was photographed in the Java Trench. —Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harper's Magazine, 24 Apr. 2024

The seafood options are vast, like ceviche and shrimp tostadas, and soups with octopus and shrimp. —Brianna Taylor, Sacramento Bee, 23 Apr. 2024

The octopus is boiled and sliced thinly to give it a little bite and the tostadas it's served with offer textural contrast. —The Arizona Republic, 22 Apr. 2024

Meanwhile, Washington and California are among several states where lawmakers this year have considered bans on octopus farming, a species for which scientists have found strong evidence of sentience. —Evan Bush, NBC News, 19 Apr. 2024

The zoo is preparing the space for a smaller octopus species in the future. —Journal Sentinel, 26 Feb. 2024

TikTok saga is not just about an octopus and her eggs. —USA TODAY, 12 Apr. 2024

For a while, the family nurtured Cal’s interest by buying him octopus toys and octopus T-shirts, dressing him as an octopus for Halloween and taking him to aquariums to see live octopuses. —Michael Levenson, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2024

The movie contains many of Park’s trademarks—a reversal at the midpoint, washes of hyperreal green, a chamber of private violence, octopus stuff—and is the first to fully marry his intensity and his restraint. —Jia Tolentino, The New Yorker, 8 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

New Latin Octopod-, Octopus, from Greek oktōpous

First Known Use

1759, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

octopus

noun

oc·​to·​pus ˈäk-tə-pəs 

plural octopuses or octopi -ˌpī 

1

: any of various sea mollusks that are cephalopods having eight muscular arms with two rows of suckers which hold objects (as its prey)

2

: something suggestive of an octopus

especially : a powerful grasping organization with many branches

Etymology

from scientific Latin Octopod-, Octopus "octopus," from Greek oktōpous, literally, "eight-footed," from oktō "eight" and pous "foot"